Colombian Mercenaries in Sudan Reportedly Recruited by British-Based Companies

Tucked away near the gleaming football stadium of Tottenham Hotspur in London lies a plain, unremarkable apartment building. Behind its ordinary facade lies a grim secret: a small second-floor apartment linked to deadly crimes unfolding a vast distance to the south.

Per British official documents, this apartment in north London is connected to a transnational web of firms involved in the large-scale recruitment of mercenaries to fight in Sudan alongside militias charged of numerous atrocities and genocide.

Hundreds of Former Colombian Military Enlisted

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to serve with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group blamed for sexual violence, targeted killings, and the systematic killing of women and children.

These contractors were directly involved in the paramilitaries’ capture of the western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which sparked a wave of violence that experts believe has cost at least 60,000 lives.

As reports of violence increase, connections have been found between the fighters contracted to overrun El Fasher and addresses in the UK capital.

UK Address Linked to Sanctioned Company

The flat in Tottenham is listed to a company called Zeuz Global, set up by two individuals identified and penalized recently by the US treasury for recruiting contractors to fight for the RSF.

Both figures – Colombian nationals in their 50s – are listed in documents at the UK company registry as living in Britain.

The firm is active. The following day the United States imposed restrictions on those behind the recruitment network, Zeuz Global abruptly moved its registered address to the very heart of central London. Its updated address matches a five-star hotel in Covent Garden.

The establishments in question said they had no connection to Zeuz Global and had no idea why the firm had listed their addresses.

"This is of serious worry that the key individuals the US government states are orchestrating this mercenary supply have been able to establish a UK company based from a flat in the capital," stated an expert, a analyst and ex-participant of a United Nations group on Sudan.

Questions Raised Over British Firm Checks

Experts argue the saga raises concerns over how individuals openly censured by the US for "fueling the conflict in Sudan" were able to apparently set up and run a firm in the British capital.

The British foreign secretary has censured the RSF for "organized murder, abuse and assault" following the group’s capture of El Fasher. The RSF has been accused by the US with acts of genocide.

When questioned about Zeuz Global, Companies House did not comment on whether it had awareness of the company's activities or verify the location of the sanctioned individuals.

Contacting Zeuz was fruitless; its website, created in May, was labelled as "being built" with no contact details.

Network Headed by Former Soldier

Per the US treasury, the figure at the centre of the South American recruitment operation for the RSF is a dual Colombian-Italian national and retired Colombian military officer located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The US alleges this individual of having a key part in recruiting ex-military personnel to be sent to Sudan using a Bogotá-based employment agency. His wife was also penalized for owning and managing the agency.

Another dual national was also sanctioned for managing a business alleged of processing money and payroll for the network hiring the Colombian fighters.

"In 2024 and 2025, companies in America linked with this individual conducted many bank transactions, totalling many millions of US dollars," the official announcement said.

Firm Establishment and Escalating Violence

In spring of the current year, the penalized figures set up a firm in north London called ODP8 Ltd – later renamed Zeuz Global.

Three days later, the RSF attacked the Zamzam displacement camp, slaughtering over 1,500 civilians. After its capture, the camp was transferred to the hired fighters, who began planning for assaulting El Fasher.

The penalized people are listed in Companies House records as holding "starting shares" in the company, with one named as a key controller.

Both list Britain as their "place of residency".

Effect on the War and Wider Issues

The hiring of the South Americans has had a significant effect on the trajectory of the conflict, experts state. These fighters have reportedly trained children to be soldiers, as well as serving as marksmen, foot soldiers, trainers, and pilots for unmanned aircraft.

These drones were instrumental in the capture of El Fasher and during fighting in other regions.

"The war in Sudan is a hi-tech one, with guided weapons and remote aircraft causing regular civilian deaths," added the expert. "These weapons require external help to operate. We know that the recruitment network has been a significant part of this external assistance."

He noted that the participation of penalized persons in a UK company underlined broader concerns over the lack of rigorous checks when companies are set up.

"Owning a UK company like this is a passport for bad actors to do deals with legitimate counterparts. It's still more difficult to join a fitness centre in most cases than to set up a UK company," he stated.

Official Reaction and Continuing Claims

A UK official stated that the new rollout of "mandatory identity verification" for corporate officers would provide more confidence about who was setting up and controlling UK firms.

The Colombians’ involvement in Sudan first came to light last year, leading to an expression of regret from the South American nation's government.

One of the fighters recently admitted that he had trained children in Sudan and fought in El Fasher.

The United Arab Emirates, repeatedly alleged of arming the RSF, has also been connected to the hiring of the contractors. A report alleged that UAE nationals providing Colombians to the RSF were linked to a senior UAE government official. The UAE has repeatedly rejected these allegations.

A British government spokesperson commented: "The UK is demanding an halt to atrocities, the protection of civilians, and the lifting of barriers to aid delivery."

They added that the UK had also sanctioned RSF leaders for their role in the atrocities in El Fasher.